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Police arrest suspect after crashing stolen motorcycle

By Robert Guttersohn

Cory James Roark, 19, of Harrison Township, was charged with unlawful driving away of an automobile, first-degree home invasion and underage drinking after he allegedly stole and crashed a motorcycle July 8.

Roark allegedly was able to gain access to the motorcycle that was parked in the 28-year-old male victim’s garage by breaking into another vehicle parked along the 900 block of Kenilworth Place and stealing the victim’s garage-door opener.

Police arrested Roark, who was on parole, after blocking off the area surrounding the crash site and reportedly finding the suspect hiding in the backyard of a home along Langley Boulevard.

Officials said they found Roark asleep in a tent. Police said he initially denied being the one who stole the motorcycle but then confessed to stealing it, according to the police report.

He told police it was the first time he had ever ridden a motorcycle and hoped he hadn’t damaged it too badly, police said. Officials said he appeared to be drunk.

The victim, who was awakened when Roark allegedly opened the garage, positively identified Roark as the man he saw steal his motorcycle, police said.

Roark, who told police he was living with his aunt in Clawson, allegedly said he wanted to apologize to the victim. When he tried, police said, the man told Roark he had kids and that Roark didn’t belong in Clawson. The police report said Roark allegedly yelled at the man for not accepting his apology and then said later to police, “I don’t blame him; I’d be pissed, too.”

Back at the station, Roark allegedly blew a .04 twice during Breathalyzer tests.

Later that morning, police received two more complaints from nearby residents who said that their vehicles had been broken into and garage-door openers taken. Police believe Roark was involved in those vehicle break-ins.

According to the police report, Roark also had two warrants out of Adrian, one warrant out of Taylor and an Oakland County Circuit Court felony warrant.

His case was bound over to circuit court, and Roark is being held on $75,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear July 18 for his arraignment.

Roark’s court-appointed Farmington Hills attorney, Lawrence Kaluzny, said he has met once with his client and also spoken with his family.

“He was very cooperative,” Kaluzny said of Roark. “There are obviously problems.”

Kaluzny said he and Roark waived the preliminary exam that would have been scheduled for July 9.

Kaluzny admitted that the prosecutors have a strong case against his client based on everything he had seen in the Clawson police report. Kaluzny said he and Roark have not decided if they will try to plead down the three charges or go to trial.

“I’m not sure what he has going and if the prosecutor is open to (reducing the charges),” Kaluzny said. “But knowing Oakland County, they probably won’t.”